Giant Lemon Valentine Cookies with Cherry Frosting
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Valentine cookies brightened with lemon and a hot pink cherry frosting.
Serves: 20 cookies
Ingredients
For the cookies:
  • 2 ¼ cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 egg
For the frosting:
  • 8 cherries (I used frozen ones)
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice, plus more as needed
  • 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda together.
  3. In a larger bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until very smooth. Add the egg and continue to beat until fluffy. Pour in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined — you don’t want to overmix.
  4. Form balls out of the cookie dough 2 inches in diameter and arrange on a cookie sheet 4 inches apart. These really spread!
  5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until just the edges are golden. The tops of the cookies should remain pale. Cool completely on the cookie sheets before removing to a plate.
  6. While the cookies cool, combine the cherries and the lemon juice in a small pan. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Strain out the cherries. Measure out 2 tablespoons of juice from the pan, squeezing in more lemon juice to make a full 2 tablespoons if needed. Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl, then add the cherry-lemon juice. Mix together until a not-too-thick frosting forms.
  7. Use a butter knife or offset spatula to spread frosting over each cooled cookie. Let rest at room temp for about an hour, until the frosting hardens. Then store at room temperature - or wrap up in cellophane and ribbon for your valentines.
Recipe by Big Girls Small Kitchen at http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/2016/02/lemon-valentine-cookies-with-cherry-frosting.html